Things to do this weekend is sponsored by Art Fund.
All weekend
LAST CHANCE EXHIBITIONS: Three large exhibitions comes to a close this Sunday:
- Genetic Automata at Wellcome Collection explores race and identity in an age of avatars, videogames and DNA ancestry. FREE, until 11 February
- REBEL: 30 Years of London Fashion at the Design Museum highlights London's unique fashion culture on the world stage. Until 11 February
- The British Museum's current exhibition Burma To Myanmar looks back at 1,500 years of the isolated country's history, from civil war to military dictatorship Until 11 February
SIX NATIONS: Rugby tournament the Six Nations continues this weekend, with Scotland v France (2.15pm) and England v Wales (4.45pm) on Saturday, and Ireland v Italy (3pm) on Sunday. Whoever you're supporting, read our guide to watching Six Nations to find somewhere to catch all of the action. 10-11 February (and until 16 March)
IMAGINE CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL: Southbank Centre's Imagine Children's Festival is back for February half term, celebrating all facets of kids' literature, theatre, dance, and music. The programme is packed, catering to all ages and budgets (plenty of events are FREE!), and highlights this weekend include musical theatre show The Instrumentals, and a day of free hip-hop workshops and performances. 7-17 February
ORCHIDS: A reminder that the Princess of Wales Conservatory at Kew Gardens is currently abloom with species of orchids from Madagascar, the theme country of this year's Orchid Festival. It's included with entry to the gardens, so why not make a day of it? Until 3 March
HEARTBREAK AND MAGIC: Somerset House unveils a new experiential VR installation, Heartbreak and Magic, by artist and quantum physicist Dr. Libby Heaney. It takes the form of a virtual reality artwork set within a physical installation, inspired by Heaney's own experience with personal grief and sudden loss. 9-18 February
CHINESE NEW YEAR: Saturday is Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year, with plenty of events going on around London to welcome in the Year of the Dragon — including a parade through central London on Sunday, and events at Museum of London Docklands all weekend. 10 February-11 February
ROC KING CLUB: Porchester Hall in Paddington hosts The Roc King Club, a family-friendly immersive theatre and dining experience. Tuck into a three-course meal as you enjoy 'The Greatest Knight of the Year, an interactive tournament hosted by the charismatic compere Arthur Chalice, with audience participation between the three courses. Best suited for 6-12 year olds and their families. 10-11 February
Sponsor message
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ROMEO & JULIET: In what is fast becoming a Valentine's staple in London, Backyard Cinema's incarnation of Romeo & Juliet is back at Union Chapel in Islington. Watch Baz Luhrmann's 1996 film version of Shakespeare's play inside the beautiful building, lit by candles, and accompanied by live choir performances of the soundtrack. The show sells out every time it comes to London, so be quick if you want tickets. 10-18 February
HALF TERM: With most schools closed for a week starting this weekend, take a look at our guide to February half term events in London, including family-friendly shows and exhibitions, one-off events and more. 10-18 February
DINOSAUR REVOLUTION: Forest Hill's Horniman Museum opens new exhibition, Dinosaur rEvolution on Saturday. It features five large animatronic dinosaurs, and highlights discoveries from recent decades which have changed the way we picture dinosaurs — with an array of colours, feathers, quills and spikes, instead of as scaly green reptiles. It's also a last chance to see the beloved Horniman walrus in situ, as the museum's Natural History Gallery closes in early March, until 2026. From 10 February
Saturday 10 February
FAMILY FILM CLUB: Take the whole clan along to Barbican Cinema's Family Film Club, which is showing Sirocco and the Kingdom of the Winds. The newly-released animated fantasy film is shown in French with English subtitles, and tickets are just £3.50 adult/£2.50 child. 11am
URBAN LIVING: Join Footprints of London guide Marilyn Greene for a stroll through Highgate, looking at some of the area's experiments in urban living. Lubetkin's High Point flats, Abraham Davis's Holly Lodge Estate and Walter Segal's 1950s St Anne's Close all feature, along with other aspects of the area's history including Waterlow Park and Highgate Cemetery. 11am-1pm
GENERATION HOPE: Young climate advocates, educators and Museum scientists team up at the Natural History Museum for Generation Hope: Act For The Planet, the final day of which is today. Free talks, pop-ups and workshops take place across four days, all exploring the topic of the climate emergency. Topics include climate disinformation and how to tackle it, and how policy decisions relating to the climate are made by the government. FREE, 11am-2pm
ART MARKET: The DIY Art Market pitches up at Copeland Park in Peckham, with 150+ artists selling their art prints, ceramics, zines, sculptures, jewellery, sewn items and more. Worth heading here if you're in search of a unique Valentine's gift ahead of next week. 11am-5pm
WAR ART: Learn about the work of wartime graphic artist Abram Games, from his daughter, Naomi Games. She's at the Imperial War Museum to talk about her father's work, life and legacy, which included over 100 posters produced when he was the official war poster artist. 12.45pm-2.30pm
SOLDIERS ON SCREEN: The National Army Museum continues its Soldiers On Screen cinema series with a showing of 1917. Released in 2019, it tells the story of two soldiers on a dangerous journey to deliver a message to the Western Front. There's an introduction by a member of museum staff before the film begins, and a panel discussion afterwards. 1.45pm-5.15pm
ALL-DAYER: Indie and electronica outfits — including Mylar, Starter Car and Cool Wall — play at an all-dayer at the Victoria in E8. Beach for Tiger, who are launching their new single Take It In, headline. From 5pm
LOST REELS: Lost Reels, a film club dedicated to bringing forgotten, lost, or unavailable films back to UK cinemas, offers a double screening of British pop films from the 1970s. Watch Born to Boogie (1972), a concert film starring Marc Bolan and T-Rex, followed by Stardust (1974) starring David Essex, Adam Faith, Dave Edmunds and Keith Moon. Takes place at the Cinema Museum in Kennington. 6pm
ORCHIDS AFTER HOURS: Kew Gardens stays open late for Orchids After Hours. Head to the Princess of Wales Conservatory for an evening of food, drink, music and talks on a Madagascan theme, as well as a chance to see the current Orchid festival floral displays illuminated at night. 6pm-10pm
TALES OF YOUTH: Here's one for history lovers: Southwark Cathedral hosts historians, storytellers and performers for three hours of tales of trials, triumphs and adventures, showcasing how young people have shaped history. It's in aid of youth suicide prevention charity Papyrus. 6.30pm-10pm
SINATRA'S SONGS: Stephen Triffitt brings his repertoire of Frank Sinatra songs to Cadogan Hall, performing tracks from the singer's Songs For Swingin' Lovers! album live. He's joined by the Manhattan Swing Orchestra for this Valentine's weekend event. 7.30pm
PIANO RECITAL: Highgate's Red Hedgehog hosts a piano recital from Veneta Neynska, performing pieces from Chopin, De Falla, Rachmaninov and others. 7.30pm
LONDON MOZART PLAYERS: Attend a recreation of a concert which took place in Vienna in 1783, when Mozart put together a programme of his greatest hits and performed it live to the public. The London Mozart Players take up the reins at Fairfield Halls in Croydon. 7.30pm
ABBA PARTY: Dance the night away to all things ABBA at Club de Fromage, at the O2 Academy in Islington. They're playing as many ABBA hits as possible, along with the usual mix of pop tunes, all night, with singalongs, confetti cannons and balloons. 10.30pm-3.30am
Sunday 11 February
TEA TASTING: Tying in with the ongoing 茶, चाय, Tea (Chá, Chai, Tea) exhibition, Horniman Museum offers a free tea tasting session. Mei Leaf, tea curators and educators, are in the Horniman Conservatory for a casual tea tasting of ancient tree teas brewed in the Gong Fu style. FREE (exhibition also free), 11am-3pm
SYMPHONY OF THE SENSES: Stanley Halls in South Norwood hosts Symphony of the Senses: Colour/Music, a free installation in which large fabric 'sails' fill the venue's Society Room, reflecting and mixing colours and light that you yourself create. FREE, 11.30am-3.30pm
LUNAR NEW YEAR MENU: Daddy Bao in Tooting Broadway marks Lunar New Year with a tasting menu inspired by traditional Chinese dishes, available for one day only. Dishes include venison and plum mini bao, roast duck or mapo celeriac with rice, and lo pa co with XO sauce. 12pm-8.30pm
SHOULDERS WE STAND ON: Preeti Dhillon, historian and author of The Shoulders We Stand On, gives a talk about some of the issues in the book, about the Black and Asian fight for racial equality in Britain. Hear about Black and Asian representation in government and their policies, and the crossover between Black and Asian grassroots activism in the free online talk, which is hosted by Black History Walks. FREE, 3pm-4.30pm
ASAKA QUARTET: This evening's Sunday concert at Conway Hall is the work of the Asaka Quartet from the Royal Academy of Music, who perform works by Haydn, Mendelssohn, Gjermund Haugen and Bax. 6.30pm-8.30pm
MILO EDWARDS: Comedian Milo Edwards is at the Pleasance Theatre in Islington for a recording of his show, Voicemail. It's your last chance to see the show, which is about life, death, ageing, money, politics, 'dad' music, time travel... and answering machines. 7.30pm
SWING COMMANDERS: Eltham's Bob Hope Theatre welcomes the Swing Commanders tonight, as they get your toes tapping to everything from American Songbook classics to western swing. 7.30pm
SUPER BOWL: Today is Super Bowl Sunday, when the Kansas City Chiefs and San Franscico 49ers face off against each other. Assuming you're not jetting off to Vegas to watch in person, here's a guide to Super Bowl screenings and parties in London. It runs into the early hours, so consider booking Monday off work if you're planning to see it through until the end. Kick off is 11.30pm, UK time
